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Colorado Ag Officials Report 2 Equine Health Concerns

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DENVER (AP) – The Colorado Department of Agriculture is warning of two diseases that have affected horses in the state recently.

The department said Monday that a horse that was euthanized in Logan County has tested positive for rabies, and a horse in Garfield County has tested positive for equine infectious anemia.

Equine infectious anemia can cause fever, anemia, fluid accumulation on the chest or legs, and emaciation in some animals. The agriculture department says infected animals must be destroyed or permanently isolated from other equids to prevent the disease from spreading.

It is transmitted through biting flies. There is no vaccine for it. Horses entering Colorado are required to undergo a blood test to detect the disease.

As for rabies, vaccination can prevent infection. There is no cure after symptoms appear.